Weekly Teacher Download for May 6

ALL TEACHERS

Student-Teacher Linkage: Teachers of STAAR- and EOC-tested subjects in grades 4 or higher and TELPAS Reading content in grades 3–8 must submit their linkage rosters on the AIM Portal by May 10. Linkage will be used to calculate Comparative Growth, which will be included in TADS. If teachers need any assistance with this process, they can attend an in-person work group. A schedule of the remaining work groups can be found here. Teachers can also refer to the User Guides, Powerpoint slides, and other useful documents posted here. Questions can also be emailed to research@houstonisd.org.

Schlumberger Coding / Robotics Club Grant: The district is calling all Science teachers to apply for the Schlumberger Coding / Robotics Club Grant for a chance to receive $3,000 for their coding and/or robotics club. Schlumberger aims to increase student awareness and education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields by inspiring the future coders and innovators of tomorrow. The grant will be given to 20 HISD school coding clubs for the 2019-2020 school year. For guidelines and to apply, click here. All applications must be submitted by May 31 to Tarah Davis at tarah.davis@houstonisd.org.

Region 4 STEAM Conference: Instructional Technology is inviting teachers, who wish to attend the Region 4 STEAM Conference on June 17 to register in OneSource, using course #1435042. Teachers that register in OneSource will have the conference registration fee covered by Instructional Technology. However, please note space is limited and paid registration seats will be awarded on a first come basis. Participants will explore the power of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) as it applies to real-world connections, creativity through collaboration, and innovation through art and engineering. This 1-day conference incorporates workshop-style sessions organized by grade bands and identified by STEAM strands, allowing you to personalize your conference experience. For more information, click here.

STEM Summer Camps: HISD will host a two-week STEM Summer Camp for elementary, middle and high school students at seven campuses across the district on June 10-13 and June 17-21. The HISD STEM Summer Camp was created to provide STEM-based curriculum activities, project-based learning immersion, and field experiences for students. The two-week program emphasizes enriching students’ knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology, while introducing them to the world of coding and robotics. The camp will be provided at no cost to students and will be led by HISD Certified Teachers. To be eligible, students need to be in good academic standing and follow the application process here. All requested documents are due by May 21.

Modified TADS Coming Soon: On April 11, the HISD Board approved a modified version of TADS, known as M-TADS. This change allows teachers who achieve a rating of Effective or Highly Effective in all categories of the appraisal system, along with earning a Summative Rating of Effective or Highly Effective, to opt-in to receiving a minimum of one observation and one walkthrough rather than the standard requirement of two of each. To qualify, a teacher must also have: at least 3 years of teaching experience overall, a term or continuing contract, and at least one full year of teaching experience in HISD. Be on the lookout for additional information at the start of the 2019-2020 school year.

ELEMENTARY

Summer Math Academy Trainings: The Elementary Mathematics Curriculum & Development Department is excited to announce that HISD will host the Texas Education Agency (TEA) math academies during summer 2019 for kindergarten through third-grade teachers. The achievement academies will address effective and systematic instructional practices in mathematics, including problem solving, the place value system, whole number operations, and fractions. To participate, teachers must have an account with Region IV and register here. Please remember that registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also a $350 stipend for eligible teachers. For complete details on the academy trainings, click here.

New ELAR/SLAR TEKS Reboot PD: The Elementary Curriculum and Development Department is pleased to provide professional development on the new K-5 ELAR and SLAR TEKS entitled New TEKS Reboot. These grade-level specific sessions will provide teachers with strategies and best practices for implementing the new standards. To attend, teachers must register for these trainings in OneSource. For details on courses including dates and times, click here.

SECONDARY

Virtual Job Shadow: Career Readiness has made available to all middle and high school students and teachers a powerful, engaging resource known as Virtual Job Shadow. Accessible from the Hub, the tool aids students in planning their futures after high school, and features short, high-interest videos that profile individuals in hundreds of occupations. By interacting with the Virtual Job Shadow platform, students can glimpse a day in the life of many potential careers and learn the next steps toward fulfilling their career goals. To get started using the tool, students can log in through Digital Resources on the HUB and use the instructions found here.

In Your Backyard: Are you a Pre-AP or AP teacher looking for ways to make your lessons more engaging? The district invites teachers to the second annual “In Your Backyard” workshop on June 17-18. Day one of the workshop will take place at the African American Library, while day two will take place at the Holocaust Museum. If you are interested, please contact Suzanne Acord at suzanne.acord@houstonisd.org. Space is limited to 20 teachers, who are committed to contributing to HISD’s AP, Pre-AP, and IB curriculum efforts. Participants will be asked to commit to both days of the workshop, as well as PD and G/T credit will be provided.